CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 01213
(3)
022030
MDHIAN 6423
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 688
OF 14080OZ MAY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DOT?
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR
HONG KONG TELNO 1457: PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE (POO)
1.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO RATIONALISE AN OBSOLETE, AND IN SOME WAYS EMBARRASSING, AREA OF HONG KONG LAW, I HAVE SEVERE DOUBTS ABOUT THE TIMING PROPOSED IN TUR. PARA 6 OF TUR CLEARLY SPELLS OUT CHINESE SENSITIVITIES. WE ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN DELICATE AND COMPLICATED DISCUSSIONS BOTH OVER PADS AND THE GENERAL QUESTION OF THE NATURE OF CONSULTATION IN THE RUN UP TO 1997. THE AMENDMENTS TO THE POO PROPOSED IN TUR STRIKE ME AS AN UNNECESSARY PROVOCATION TO PEKING, PARTICULARLY SINCE, ACCORDING TO PARA 2 OF TUR, THE POLICE HAVE SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO ''MANAGE THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN A FLEXIBLE MANNER'', I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT THERE IS NO/NO SUGGESTION IN TUR THAT WE SHOULD FOREWARN THE CHINESE. ALL IN ALL THIS HAS THE MAKINGS OF A TSING MA BRIDGE - DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO DOWN THAT
ROAD AGAIN?
■
COATES
YYYY
MAIN
61
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
NEWS D PLANNERS
DISTRIBUTION
65
PUSD
RAD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL